Under the bridge

Jim killed the engine so we could sail in. It was the right thing to do.

Farallon Islands

26 miles to SF

Taken earlier this morning...

... During morning watch, and 100 miles west of San Francisco. When you see this... We are in cell range.

Quoth the Booby

It is Scott's watch. Late afternoon. Scott is sitting in the companionway watching for squalls. Otto the autopilot is at the helm. The captain and first mate are sleeping below. I am in the cockpit, back resting on the bulkhead, facing aft, listening to Amy Winehouse "Back to Black" on the iPod, and watching a big sea bird circle the boat.

The bird corrects course in mid-air, matches the speed of the boat, swoops in just off the water from aft, and lands above the transom sitting on the rescue kit mounted to the lifeline.

So there he is, less than 10 feet away. I am looking at him. He is looking at me. We are looking at each other. The bird decides I am no threat and starts preening and grooming himself. Blue beak with orange at the base of the beak. White body with some gray. Feet are webbed, yellow orange, like a duck. [I took pictures of course, and will update this post with same when we get back to the land of the big intertubes. In the meantime feel free to ID the bird - Deb guessed from the description it is a Blue Beaked Booby.]

The bird and I stared at each other for almost 30 minutes as Morpheus pounded through the swells. Then it got weird. The bird talked. You know - like a parrot. Now I don't expect anyone to believe this, I almost didn't believe it myself. But I was there, and the bird was clear as a bell.

As I looked at the bird, I remembered the story told by the race crew of something that took place only a week or so ago, at just about this distance from Hawaii. My understanding is that Pete was at helm, and he was attacked by a large seabird. The bird dive bombed Pete several times, each sweep coming closer until the bird's wing feathers were brushing against Pete on each pass. This was no ordinary bird, as Pete swears he saw the glowing red light of malevolent evil shining out of its eye sockets. It was a demon bird, sent from the gates of Hell itself, or maybe from Hula Girl (everyone knows that Cayard sold his soul to the devil - aka Larry Ellison). Fearing for his own everlasting soul, Pete cut short his watch, and scrambled below. There he waited until he was sure that the bird had left before coming back topside.

At least, that is how Pete tells the story. It sounds a bit different when related by other members of the crew. Ask them.

But I wondered, could this be the same bird?

Finally the bird tired of my company and left, but the words emanating from his beak were still ringing in my ears. I'll admit I was shaken. That night, I could not sleep. I awoke in a cold sweat and was moved to describe the episode in verse:

Quoth The Booby
(with apologies to Edgar Allen Poe)

Upon the Morpheus, after main sail tending,
I sat and pondered the night watch pending.
While I lounged in the 'pit - too well fed -
I heard a flapping, just above my head.
There I saw a seabird soar
Then flap and land on the transom floor.
The sun and salt spray burned my eyes,
But with no worrisome impending gybes,
we stared at each other - me and the bird so bold -
A blue beaked booby with eyes so cold.
"Tell me!" I said, "What do you seek?"

Quoth the Booby - "Where is Pete?"

x-posted at MW Mobile Blog and Morpheus Sailing Blog.

2015 Miles to Go!

First Sail Mail post to blog. - JG entry:

7:30am PDT
19 knots of wind
TWA 60 degrees

First 12 hours of the trip are in the books. All have gone through their first watches and all goes well. No sign of any seasickness, although I may have sensed a bit of something in Mike's case. If he's feeling "off" he's doing a good job of dealing with it.

Had a good afternoon of kiteboarding on the sandbar. Had been shut out my previous two trips and was bound and determined to make it this trip. Good thing the winds just barely cooperated today, or we'd be there until they did!!

We've left aprox. 24 hours behind the bulk of the group heading home. Will be fun to see how many we can catch over the next two weeks.

Right now its reefed main and no jib so only about 7 knots. Just keeping it comfortable and letting everyone get their sea legs.

Hope our transponder is working. Is it giving you 4 hour updates or 6??

-Jim

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MW NOTE: This is the first of the Sail Mail back posts that were supposed to be cross-posted simultaneously with the Morpheus Sailing blog, but I screwed up on the blog e-mail address. I'll make up for it by adding photos as I back fill.

Mainsail is up.

We are sailing.

On our way to San Franciso...

Unless we get out of harbor and decide to go Kaui first. Regardless - we are outta here.

Jim buzzes the Morpheus

Back at the sand bar

Jim and Scott are checking the anchor and making a fuel run to top off.

Morning on Morpheus

My first cup of press pot Pete's French Roast on board. We moved Morpheus from the sand bar to a more protected anchorage inside the harbor at last light. Move was made necessary when the wind shifted and Deb discovered there was only inches of water under the keel. No harm no foul. Today we will probably head back to the sand bar and assess. If sufficient wind, Jim will do some kite surfing. Then we'll decide to either head home directly or by way of Kauai.

We are hoping...

... that Scott does not drink all our beer before we weigh anchor tomorrow.

Time to go for a swim.

At the sandbar...

Near the mouth of the harbor. We will anchor here this afternoon and probably tonight. Still in cell range.

Deb rescues the plastic locker lid.

Which blew off shortly after leaving the dock. It was a good "man overboard" drill. Locker lid is secured safely back on board.

Underway

The last cheeseburger in paradise...

... at the yacht club before we shove off.

Loading her up...

The Great Semi Circle

Today we move from the Beach House to Morpheus. Tomorrow we begin our journey back to San Francisco. This map chronicles my cruises with Morpheus over the years (so far). As you can see, when we will arrive back under The Gate, I will have completed The Great Semi-Circle on Morpheus.

The Tahiti Pacific Crossing was documented pre-blog on a web page here.


The Cabo - San Diego delivery was documented with the first posts from this blog.

The San Francisco - San Diego delivery... Well, I'll have to get around to it someday.

Our progress can be tracked at FIS Tracking. or possibly the link here. Click on "Pacific Cup Returns". Find Morpheus. That is all I can tell you, I am really not sure not sure exactly how it works. You will have to figure it out yourself.

We can theoretically be reached by sail mail. Short text messages can be sent to and received from Morpheus at wda7721 AT sailmail DOT com.

Blogs will theoretically be updated via TREO cell phone while in range, and via sail mail both here and at Captain Jim's Blog.

It's moving day.

Out of the beach house and on to the Morpheus.

Goodbye Dinner

Leslie, Shirley, Scott and myself enjoy our goodbye dinner at Lucy's in Kailua. Leslie went straight to the airport and the rest of us returned to our last night at the beach house. You may find it difficult to identify me, as I am wearing an Aloha shirt to blend in with the locals.

The food was excellent. Some samples from around the table:

Seared ahi sashimi appetizer.

Ahi sashimi tower, with avocado, rice, and three types of caviar. Yum.

Calamari steaks prepared "Ikan Goreng" style served with bok choy. I'd like to find this recipe to use with abalone steaks. Really good.